Planetary wheel hub

Abstract

A two-ratio planetary hub utilizes spring applied pressure release clutches between the sun gear and planet carrier and ring gear to stationary housing to provide selectable ratios, braking and neutral functions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A planetary transmission comprising a sun gear, means to rotate said sun gear, planet gears, said planet gears surrounding said sun gear, a planet carrier, means to connect said planet gears to said planet carrier, means to connect said planet carrier to an output for the transmission, a first clutch pack, a first set of springs, said first set of springs activating said first clutch pack to connect said planet carrier to said sun gear for rotation therewith, a first means to override said first set of springs to disconnect said planet carrier from said sun gear, a stationary housing, a ring gear, said ring gear surrounding said planet gears, a second clutch pack, a second set of springs, said second set of springs activating said second clutch pack to connect said ring gear to said stationary housing to prevent the rotation of said ring gear, a second means to override said second set of springs to disconnect said ring gear from said stationary housing and operation means to selectively operate said first and second means so as to alter the operative condition of the planetary transmission so as to provide a first drive condition with operation of said first means, a second drive condition with operation of said second means and a braking condition with both said first and second clutch packs activated. 
     
     
       2. The planetary transmission of claim 1 characterized in that said first clutch pack and said second clutch pack each include portions radially overlapping the other. 
     
     
       3. The planetary transmission of claim 2 characterized in that said first clutch pack and said second clutch pack are axially spaced from each other. 
     
     
       4. The planetary transmission of claim 1 characterized in that said first and second means include movable pistons. 
     
     
       5. The planetary transmission of claim 4 characterized in that one of the pistons of said first means and the piston of said second means is stationary and is connected to its respective clutch pack through a bearing that allows the rotation of the respective clutch pack. 
     
     
       6. The planetary transmission of claim 1 characterized by the addition of a rotational wheel hub and said planetary transmission being within said rotational wheel hub. 
     
     
       7. The planetary transmission of claim 6 wherein said stationary housing is one piece and said rotational wheel hub is supported by bearings to said stationary housing. 
     
     
       8. The planetary transmission of claim 6 characterized by the addition of a final drive and said final drive rotationally interconnecting said output of the transmission to said rotational wheel hub. 
     
     
       9. The planetary transmission of claim 1 wherein the planetary transmission has two ratios, neutral and braking operative conditions. 
     
     
       10. The planetary transmission of claim 1 characterized in that said second set of springs is axially displaced from said second clutch pack. 
     
     
       11. The planetary transmission of claim 1 characterized by said operation means providing a neutral condition with operation of both said first means and said second means. 
     
     
       12. A planetary transmission comprising a sun gear, means to rotate said sun gear, planet gears, said planet gears surrounding said sun gear, a planet carrier, means to connect said planet gears to said planet carrier, means to connect said planet carrier to an output for the transmission, a first clutch pack, a first set of springs, said first set of springs activating said first clutch pack to connect said planet carrier to said sun gear for rotation therewith, a first means to override said first set of springs to disconnect said planet carrier from said sun gear, a stationary housing, a ring gear, said ring gear surrounding said planet gears, a second clutch pack, a second set of springs, said second set of springs activating said second clutch pack to connect said ring gear to said stationary housing to prevent the rotation of said ring gear, a second means to override said second set of springs to disconnect said ring gear from said stationary housing, operation means to selectively operate said first and second means so as to alter the operative condition of the planetary transmission, and said first set of springs biasing the movable piston of said first means in the same direction that said second set of springs biases the movable piston of said second means. 
     
     
       13. A planetary transmission comprising a sun gear, means to rotate said sun gear, planet gears, said planet gears surrounding said sun gear, a planet carrier, means to connect said planet gears to said planet carrier, means to connect said planet carrier to an output for the transmission, a first clutch pack, a first set of springs, said first set of springs activating said first clutch pack to connect said planet carrier to said sun gear for rotation therewith, a first means to override said first set of springs to disconnect said planet carrier from said sun gear, a stationary housing, a ring gear, said ring gear surrounding said planet gears, a second clutch pack, a second set of springs, said second set of springs activating said second clutch pack to connect said ring gear to said stationary housing to prevent the rotation of said ring gear, a second means to override said second set of springs to disconnect said ring gear from said stationary housing, operation means to selectively operate said first and second means so as to alter the operative condition of the planetary transmission and said first set of springs and said second set of springs including portions, radially overlapping the other. 
     
     
       14. A planetary transmission comprising a sun gear, means to rotate said sun gear, planet gears, said planet gears surrounding said sun gear, a planet carrier, means to connect said planet gears to said planet carrier, means to connect said planet carrier to an output for the transmission, a first clutch pack, a first set of springs, said first set of springs activating said first clutch pack to connect said planet carrier to said sun gear for rotation therewith, a first means to override said first set of springs to disconnect said planet carrier from said sun gear, a stationary housing, a ring gear, said ring gear surrounding said planet gears, a second clutch pack, a second set of springs, said second set of springs activating said second clutch pack to connect said ring gear to said stationary housing to prevent the rotation of said ring gear, a second means to override said second set of springs to disconnect said ring gear from said stationary housing, operation means to selectively operate said first and second means so as to alter the operative condition of the planetary transmission, a rotational wheel hub, said planetary transmission being within said rotational wheel hub, a final drive, said final drive rotationally interconnecting said output of the transmission to said rotational wheel hub, said final drive having a ratio and said ratio of said final drive being alterable without comprise to the interconnection of said rotational wheel hub to said stationary housing. 
     
     
       15. A planetary transmission comprising a sun gear, means to rotate said sun gear, planet gears, said planet gears surrounding said sun gear, a planet carrier, means to connect said planet gears to said planet carrier, means to connect said planet carrier to an output for the transmission, a first clutch pack, a first set of springs, said first set of springs activating said first clutch pack to connect said planet carrier to said sun gear for rotation therewith, a first means to override said first set of springs to disconnect said planet carrier from said sun gear, a stationary housing, a ring gear, said ring gear surrounding said planet gears, a second clutch pack, a second set of springs, said second set of springs activating said second clutch pack to connect said ring gear to said stationary housing to prevent the rotation of said ring gear, a second means to override said second set of springs to disconnect said ring gear from said stationary housing, operation means to selectively operate said first and second means so as to alter the operative condition of the planetary transmission, and said first set of springs being located axially overlapping said first clutch pack. 
     
     
       16. A planetary transmission comprising a sun gear, means to rotate said sun gear, planet gears, said planet gears surrounding said sun gear, a planet carrier, means to connect said planet gears to said planet carrier, means to connect said planet carrier to an output for the transmission, a first clutch pack, a first set of springs, said first set of springs activating said first clutch pack to connect said planet carrier to said sun gear for rotation therewith, a first means to override said first set of springs to disconnect said planet carrier from said sun gear, a stationary housing, a ring gear, said ring gear surrounding said planet gears, a second clutch pack, a second set of springs, said second set of springs activating said second clutch pack to connect said ring gear to said stationary housing to prevent the rotation of said ring gear, a second means to override said second set of springs to disconnect said ring gear from said stationary housing, operation means to selectively operate said first and second means so as to alter the operative condition of the planetary transmission, a piston spacer and said piston spacer axially overlapping said first and said second sets of springs. 
     
     
       17. A planetary transmission for a vehicle comprising stationary housing, means to connect said stationary housing to the vehicle, a sun gear, means to rotate said sun gear, planet gears, said planet gears surrounding said sun gear, a planet carrier, means to connect said planet gears to said planet carrier, a first clutch pack, a first set of stationary springs, said first set of springs activating said first clutch pack through a bearing that allows rotation of said first clutch pack to connect said planet carrier to said sun gear for rotation therewith, a first piston, said first piston overriding said first set of springs to disconnect said planet carrier from said sun gear, a ring gear, said ring gear surrounding said planet gears, a second clutch pack, a second set of stationary springs, said second set of springs activating said second clutch pack to connect said ring gear to said stationary housing to prevent the rotation of said ring gear, a second piston, said second piston overriding said second set of springs to disconnect said ring gear from said stationary housing, operation means to selectively move said first and second pistons to override their respective sets of springs so as to alter the operative condition of the planetary transmission, a rotational wheel hub, said rotational wheel hub being rotatively supported to said stationary housing by bearings and means to connect said planet carrier to said wheel hub so as to provide a first drive condition with operation of said first means, a second drive condition with operation of said second means and a braking condition with both said first and second clutch packs activated. 
     
     
       18. The planetary transmission of claim 17 characterized in that said first clutch pack and said second clutch pack partially radially overlap each other and said first clutch pack being axially displaced from said second clutch pack. 
     
     
       19. The planetary transmission of claim 17 characterized by said operation means providing a neutral condition with operation of both said first means and said second means. 
     
     
       20. A planetary transmission for a vehicle comprising stationary housing, means to connect said stationary housing to the vehicle, a sun gear, means to rotate said sun gear, planet gears, said planet gears surrounding said sun gear, a planet carrier, means to connect said planet gears to said planet carrier, a first clutch pack, a first set of stationary springs, said first set of springs activating said first clutch pack through a bearing that allows rotation of said first clutch pack to connect said planet carrier to said sun gear for rotation therewith, a first piston, said first piston overriding said first set of springs to disconnect said planet carrier from said sun gear, a ring gear, said ring gear surrounding said planet gears, a second clutch pack, a second set of stationary springs, said second set of springs activating said second clutch pack to connect said ring gear to said stationary housing to prevent the rotation of said ring gear, a second piston, said second piston overriding said second set of springs to disconnect said ring gear from said stationary housing, operation means to selectively move said first and second pistons to override their respective sets of springs so as to alter the operative condition of the planetary transmission, a rotational wheel hub, said rotational wheel hub being rotatively supported to said stationary housing by bearings, means to connect said planet carrier to said wheel hub, and said first piston and said second piston moving axially of the stationary housing in the same direction in overriding said first and second sets of springs respectively. 
     
     
       21. A planetary transmission for a vehicle comprising stationary housing, means to connect said stationary housing to the vehicle, a sun gear, means to rotate said sun gear, planet gears, said planet gears surrounding said sun gear, a planet carrier, means to connect said planet gears to said planet carrier, a first clutch pack, a first set of stationary springs, said first set of springs activating said first clutch pack through a bearing that allows rotation of said first clutch pack to connect said planet carrier to said sun gear for rotation therewith, a first piston, said first piston overriding said first set of springs to disconnect said planet carrier from said sun gear, a ring gear, said ring gear surrounding said planet gears, a second clutch pack, a second set of stationary springs, said second set of springs activating said second clutch pack to connect said ring gear to said stationary housing to prevent the rotation of said ring gear, a second piston, said second piston overriding said second set of springs to disconnect said ring gear from said stationary housing, operation means to selectively move said first and second pistons to override their respective sets of springs so as to alter the operative condition of the planetary transmission, a rotational wheel hub, said rotational wheel hub being rotatively supported to said stationary housing by bearings, means to connect said planet carrier to said wheel hub, said stationary housing being hollow and substantially all of the parts of the planetary transmission being contained within said stationary housing. 
     
     
       22. A planetary transmission for a vehicle comprising stationary housing, means to connect said stationary housing to the vehicle, a sun gear, means to rotate said sun gear, planet gears, said planet gears surrounding said sun gear, a planet carrier, means to connect said planet gears to said planet carrier, a first clutch pack, a first set of stationary springs, said first set of springs activating said first clutch pack through a bearing that allows rotation of said first clutch pack to connect said planet carrier to said sun gear for rotation therewith, a first piston, said first piston overriding said first set of springs to disconnect said planet carrier from said sun gear, a ring gear, said ring gear surrounding said planet gears, a second clutch pack, a second set of stationary springs, said second set of springs activating said second clutch pack to connect said ring gear to said stationary housing to prevent the rotation of said ring gear, a second piston, said second piston overriding said second set of springs to disconnect said ring gear from said stationary housing, operation means to selectively move said first and second pistons to override their respective sets of springs so as to alter the operative condition of the planetary transmission, a rotational wheel hub, said rotational wheel hub being rotatively supported to said stationary housing by bearings, means to connect said planet carrier to said wheel hub, said means to connect said planet carrier to said wheel hub including a final drive, said final drive having a ratio, and said ratio of said final drive being alterable without compromise to the interconnection of said wheel hub to said stationary housing. 
     
     
       23. A planetary transmission for a vehicle comprising stationary housing, means to connect said stationary housing to the vehicle, a sun gear, means to rotate said sun gear, planet gears, said planet gears surrounding said sun gear, the outer of said planet gears being spaced from the axis of said sun gear by a first distance, a planet carrier, means to connect said planet gears to said planet carrier, a first clutch pack, a first set of stationary springs, said first set of springs activating said first clutch pack through a bearing that allows rotation of said first clutch pack to connect said planet carrier to said sun gear for rotation therewith, a first piston, said first piston overriding said first set of springs to disconnect said planet carrier from said sun gear, a ring gear, said ring gear surrounding said planet gears, said ring gear having a section displaced laterally of said planet gears, said section being spaced form the axis of sun gear by a second distance, said second distance being less than said first distance, a second clutch pack, a second set of stationary springs, said second set of springs activating said second clutch pack to connect said laterally displaced section of said ring gear to said stationary housing to prevent the rotation of said ring gear, a second piston, said second piston overriding said second set of springs to disconnect said laterally displaced section of said ring gear from said stationary housing to allow the rotation of said ring gear, and operation means to selectively move said first and second pistons to override their respective sets of springs so as to alter the operative condition of the planetary transmission. 
     
     
       24. The planetary transmission of claim 23 characterized in that said first clutch pack is located radially inward of said planet carrier inside of said first distance from the axis of said sun gear. 
     
     
       25. The planetary transmission of claim 23 characterized in that said first clutch pack is located on the same side of said sun gear as said means to rotate said sun gear. 
     
     
       26. The planetary transmission of claim 23 characterized in that said second set of springs are radially displaced from said second clutch pack. 
     
     
       27. The planetary transmission of claim 23 characterized in that said first set of springs are displaced radially outwards from said first clutch pack. 
     
     
       28. A planetary transmission for a vehicle comprising stationary housing, means to connect said stationary housing to the vehicle, a sun gear, means to rotate said sun gear, planet gears, the outer part of said planet gears being spaced from the axis of said sun gear by a first distance, said planet gears surrounding said sun gear, a planet carrier, means to connect said planet gears to said planet carrier, said planet carrier having a section laterally displaced of said planet gears, said section being spaced from the axis of the sun gear by a distance, said distance being less than said first distance, a first clutch pack, a first set of stationary springs, said first set of springs activating said first clutch pack through a bearing that allows rotation of said first clutch pack to connect said section of said planet carrier to lock said planet carrier to said sun gear for rotation therewith, a first piston, said first piston overriding said first set of springs to disconnect said section of said planet carrier from said sun gear to allow the rotation of said planet carrier in respect to said sun gear, a ring gear, said ring gear surrounding said planet gears, said ring gear having a section laterally displaced of said planet gears, said section being spaced from the axis of said sun gear by a second distance, said second distance being less than said first distance, a second clutch pack, a second set of stationary springs, said second set of springs activating said second clutch pack to connect said laterally displaced section of said ring gear to said stationary housing to prevent the rotation of said ring gear, a second piston, said second piston overriding said second set of springs to disconnect said laterally displaced section of said ring gear from said stationary housing to allow the rotation of said ring gear, and operation means to selectively move said first and second pistons to override their respective sets of springs so as to alter the operative condition of the planetary transmission. 
     
     
       29. The planetary transmission of claim 28 characterized in that said second distance is less than said distance. 
     
     
       30. The planetary transmission of claim 28 characterized in that said first clutch pack is located radially inward of said planet carrier inside of said first distance from the axis of said sun gear. 
     
     
       31. The planetary transmission of claim 28 characterized in that said second set of springs are radially displaced from said second clutch pack. 
     
     
       32. The planetary transmission of claim 28 characterized in that said first set of springs are displaced radially outwards from said first clutch pack. 
     
     
       33. A planetary transmission comprising a sun gear, means to rotate said sun gear, planet gears, said planet gears surrounding said sun gear, a planet carrier, means to connect said planet gears to said planet carrier, means to connect said planet carrier to an output for the transmission, a first clutch pack, a first set of springs, said first set of springs activating said first clutch pack to connect said planet carrier to said sun gear for rotation therewith, a first means to override said first set of springs to disconnect said planet carrier from said sun gear, a stationary housing, a ring gear, said ring gear surrounding said planet gears, a second clutch pack, a second set of springs, said second set of springs activating said second clutch pack to connect said ring gear to said stationary housing to prevent the rotation of said ring gear, a second means to override said second set of springs to disconnect said ring gear from said stationary housing and operation means to selectively operate said first and second means so as to alter the operative condition of the planetary transmission into a first speed condition, a second speed condition, a braking condition and a neutral condition.